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Interpretations:Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

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I'll be damned -- for 10 years I thought this was a TMBG original!


In the UK this clunked after the top 10 Birdhouse. If only they had released Twisting! (Mr Tuck)


This song's about people changing everything and then trying to change it back after deciding they don't like it. -Walrus

I'm sure it's just about Istanbul being Constantinople no more.

I'd like to point out that Constantinople's name was changed to Istanbul because it was taken by the Turks. Ironically, before being called Constantinople, it was called Byzantium. Then Emperor Constantine moved his capital from Rome to there, changing the name to Constaninople in honour of himself. After all, Rome was named after its founder Romulus. The reason New York is no longer New Amsterdam is because it stopped being controlled by the Dutch, and was taken by the British. A few Dutch names linger throughout, however, such as Wall Street and Harlem. - Anatole the Vampire

I'd like to point out that Constantinople was given to the city after the death of Constantine, in memorial of the monumentus efforts he took part in to keep the Roman Empire together. He actually renamed it Nova Roma-New Rome. Furthermore, Constantinople was not officially renamed Istanbul until 1923-a full 400 years after the conquest. So to the group who wrote the song in 1953, it wasn't that far away in time, almost a current event.

Just thought I'd bring that up WZ Lawrence 18:06, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

Ithink it's about change

The song happens to be a cover, contrary to popular opinion. It was originally written by "The Four Lads"[1] in 1953 It is available for the ear here. [2] The eyes may feast upon it at this location: [3]

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